Protective arrangement



March 13, 1945. R Q BENNETT PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENT.

Filed May 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LJ Hi; Attomg.

R. S. BENNETT PROTECTIVE .ARRAGEMENT March 13, 1945.

Filed May 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .www lv? IPI Vebor:

Ralph 5 Bennett, )0:5

His 'Attorng Patented Mar. 13, 194s rao'rscrrvaannANGEMEN'r Ralph S. Bennett, Pittliield, Mass., assignorvto v General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application May zs, 1942, serial No. 444,869

9 Claims.

My invention relates to protective varrangements and more particularly to a protective arrangement employing a fuse-controlled switch for accomplishing certain changes in the electrical connections of the device being protected.

In connection with electrical 'transmission systems, it is sometimes desirable to correct the power factor by providing suitable capacitor banks connected to the system. In such systems, particularly where three-phase four-wire trans- .mission.lines are used, harmonic currents will flow in the neutral conductor if a star or Y-connected capacitor bank is used having 'a grounded neutral conductor. In these cases, the third harmonic current particularly and perhaps other higher harmonic currents may cause serious in- I ductive interference on adjacent communication lines. It has been discovered that, ii the neutral of the star or Y-connected capacitor bank is ungrounded, such harmonic currents do not ilow and, consequently, such interference on adjacent communication lines is eliminated. However, operation of such starconnected.capacitor banks with an isolated neutral is dangerous since, in the case of failure of a capacitor in one phase oi the star-connected unit, a displacement of the neutral of the three-phase voltage system would result so that dangerous overvoltages might be applied to the capacitors in the other phases. Aocordingly, it would be dsirable to provide a protective arrangement for a polyphase star-connected capacitor bank wherein the neutral there of may be isolated from ground under all normal operation to prevent telephone interference and yet whereby such neutral may be grounded, when any one of the capacitors of the star-connected unit should fail, to preclude any dangerous voltages on the other capacitors of the bank.

As will be brought out in the ensuing description, similar rproblems arise with series capacitors and withother circuits to which modications of my protective arrangement are also applicable.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved protective arrangement for electric circuits.

It is another object of my inventionJ to provide a protective arrangement for a star or Y-connected capacitor bank having an isolated neutral whereby the neutral thereof may be grounded upon failure of any capacitor in said Y-connected bank.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specication.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a protective arrangement embodying my invention showing a control device forming a part thereof in a somewhat detailed sectional view, Fig. la is a diagram identical with Fig. 1 except that the control device is schematically illustrated, Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of the protective arrangement of Fig. la, Fig. 3 illustrates another application of a protective system employing the control devices of Figs. 1a and 2, and Figs.' 4, 5, and 6 illustrate still other applications of protective arrangements employing control devices somewhat similar to the control device shown in Fig. l.

Referring now to Fig. 1, i have illustrated a polyphase circuit il) including three phase conduotors lila, i0, lilo and a neutral conductor it which is connected to'ground as indicated at i2. A capacitor bank consisting oi three capacitors lBe, its, its is connected to the circuit or trann-a mission line il? through fuses ils, No, and ls, respectively. The capacitor bank is preferably star or Y-connected-and, as will become apparent from the following description, the neutral point of star 'or Y-connected banks is normally maintained in an isolated condition with respect to ground, thereby preventing harmonic currents from ilowing in the ground or neutral circuit to cause telephone or other communication interference. In order that the isolated neutral of the capacitor bank may be grounded whenever one oi the capacitors fails, I provide a suitable control device generally indicated at l5 which is preterably similar to the electric circuit-interrupting devices disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent 2,169,087 and 2,267,393 assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The control device I5 of Fig. 1 has been i1- lustrated as substantially yidentical in certain respects with the device disclosed in Patent 2,169,087 referred to above and, consequently, will be only briefly described hereinafter, the essential portions thereof in so far as the present invention is concerned being shown in the vschematic disclosure in Fig. la. The device I5 is illustrated as being constructed in the form of an enclosed type of reclosing cutout including an insulating housing IB having spaced terminals Il and IB mounted therein. The casing I6 is provided with an open front and bottom, the open front being closed by a suitable door I9 having a recessed portion for accommodating a plurality of fuse holders designated as 2l and 2|, .respectively. 'I'he fuse holders 26 and 2| of the expulsion type consist of fuse tubes 22 of insulating material having upper terminals 22 screwed on the upper ends of the fuse tube which are closed by contact caps 24. Suitable electrical conductors which may or may not include fusible elements are disposed within tubes 22 in a manner similar to the method in which fuse links were disposed in the fuse tubes of my prior patents referred to above, the upper end of these electrical conductors being in the form of a buttonhead 26 so as readily 'to make contact with` the upper terminals 2l by means of contact caps 24 of fuse holders 2li and 2|, respectively.`

As illustrated in Fig. l, the two fuse holders 2o and 2| aremaintained in parallel and relatively close side-by-side relationship by meansof a supporting element 2l having openings in which the fuse holders aresecured as by means of pins or screws 21. Fuse holder 2|...is longer than fuse holder 2| -and is'arranged as illustrated so that its lower end projects considerably below the level of the lower open end oi fuse holder 2|, thereby preventing gases expelled fromJ fuse holder-2l from coming too close to the lower end of fuse holder 2|. 'Ihe fuse holders and their supporting lelements constitute a part oi"a unitaryassembly adapted to be removably installed in cutout housing or casingl I6.

A toggle lever 2l isprovided for removably supporting the fuse holdem 2l and 2| and their supporting element 2B in casing i6. One end o! this lever is pivotally attached at 29 to a terminal collar 3l clamped .on the lower end of iuse'holder 2| and the other end oi the lever has a hookshaped portion 2| for detachable engagement with a hinge pin 22 carried by hinge bracket $3.

vThe circuit-controlled device I5' diners from the arrangements disclosed in my prior patents in that terminalcollar ll is electrically connected through leveri2l, hinge pin 22. hook-'shaped portion 2| oi leverjl. and hinge bracket 33 to a terminal 84, the purpose oi whichwill be described hereinafter in connection with mcdiilc'a` tions of mytinvention.

As will be seen from' Fig. 1,-terminal collar it is normally electrically isolated from lower cutout terminal AIl by means of a portion of the insulating tube .22 of :use holder 2|. Toggle lever 28 is normally held in .rigid relationship with respectto fuse holder 2| by means of an extension 35 of the electrical conductorv within tube 22 of fuse holder 2| which mayor may not include a fusible element but which inciudesthe buttonhead terminal 2S at the upper end thereof.

Under normal conditions, therefore, the electrical conductor within fuse holder 2| is electrically connected at the upper end to terminal I1 but is electrically isolated from terminal I8 at the lower end thereof. The upper ends of the fuse .holders 20 and V2| are held together by means of a metal clamp 38, thereby electricallyv connecting the upper endssof the fuse holders as well as aiding in Amaintaining the fuse holders in proper relationship. i

' The tuse holder assembly including fuse holders 20 and 2| is attached to recessed door l! by means off/a retaining -clip 21 securcdto the .inner face of the door as by'means of a screw o 3B. The lower end ofthe fuse holder assembly is normally held in its position. within the recessl of door |8 by means-of anextension .3Q of the electrical conductor. which may or may not include a fusible element, supported within fuse holder 20. The extension). is clamped by means of a wing screw 40 to the metal terminal carried by an inwardly projecting' ledge or boss t2 on the lower inner face of the door il. Terminal ,4| is provided with a. downwardly extending snubber 43 about which the conductor extension 29 is wrapped to insure proper clamping oi the extension to the terminal 6G.

In the arrangement indicated in Fig. l, the electrical conductor mounted within fuse holder 2n is connected between the terminals or contacts I1 and i8, the normal circuit extending through contact fingers 44, upper fuse holder .terminals 23, the electrical conductor within fuse holder 20 and the extension 29 thereof, terminal 4i, a flexible shunt conductor 45 connected between terminal ,4l and supporting element 2t, supporting element 28, and a contact-engaging arm 46. Arm 46 is pivotally supported on the inner end of element 2l and is biased by suitable spring means to press against a cooperating contact face of lower terminal Il.

In the event that a fuse linkpis provided in fuse holder 20 which is ruptured uponv excessive currents flowing therethrough, the circuit may be reclosed through the electrical conductor in fuse holder 2| by means of a suitable circuitreclosing mechanism which is mounted on the outer end of fuse holder supporting element 26. This reclosing mechanismis completely described in my prior patents and only a brief4 description .of th'e essential portions. thereof will be included in .its uppermost position so that, switch 4s is held in the vertical positionindicated by detents4 $0, which prevent counterclockwise rotation thereof. Actually, the switching element 4I comprises two members oneon either side offuse 'holder 20 and corespo'ndingly two detents Il are provided, only one of which is shown in the drawings since the other is hidden by other parts of the control device.

The lvertically movable switch supporting element 41 is continually biased in a downward direction by spring means not shown. The extension 29 of the conductor within` fuse holder 20 holds switch supporting element 41 in a position so that projectingfeet Il which form part of terminal 4| engage with shoulders on the downwardly projecting extension of the switching element 4l. Whenever the electrical conductor within fuse holder 20 which may include a' fusible element is severed, leaf spring`member 52 tends to move the lower end of door I9 away from the fuse holder assembly so that the feet il ot terminal 4| releases the downwardly biased switch-supporting element 41. whereupon downward movement of element 41 occurs until switch 40 is freeof detents IU. If

desired, this downward movement-may be retarded by a suitable timedelaymechanismgen 'erally indicated at 5I although, for certain applications, such retardation may not be desirable.- As soon as switching member 4t is free ot detents 50, counterclockwise rotation thereof occurs to cause engagement with contacts l4.`one of which is shown in the drawings carried by terminal collar 30 mounted on the lower end of fuse holder 2l. thereby completing the circuit bewhich is vertically movable, is.

tween terminals i1 and Il through the conductor in fuse holder 2l. rIn order to provide a good electrical path between switching member l and the fuse holder supporting element 2l, -a flexible shunt strip $5 is provided. In view of the detailed description of a control device almost identical with II shown in Fig. l of the.

present application included in my prior Patent 2,169,087, the operation and general detailed construction thereof will be obvious to one skilled in the art and no further discussionwill be included here. Returning now to the problem of providing a ground connection for the neutral of the capacitor bank, including capacitors i3.. Il.

and |3 of Figs. 1 and 1a, only upon failure of one, of the capacitors of the bank and otherwise operating the neutral of the -bank isolated from ground, I have illustrated the neutral of a star or Y-connected bank connected directly to terminal I1 of control device II as by conductor 5U. Similarly, terminal Il is connected to ground as by conductor I9. In Figs. l and 1a, the conductor in fuse holder 2l is constructed in a manner to include a. fusible element Il which may or may not be parallelled by a strain wire such as $2 shown in Fig. l, which fusible element is connecte'd in series with suitable dielectric means such as a film cut-out or as illustrated in the drawings a gap 63 best shown in the schematic dlagram of Fig. la. With this arrangement, the neutral of the Y-connected lcapacitor bank is isolated by the gap i3 in fuse holder 20. This gap is so designed to arc over whenever the volt age there across exceeds a predetermined value. Upon failure of any of the capacitors inv a Y- connected bank, a high voltage occurs between the neutral and ground sui'llcie'nt to arc over spark gap $3, whereupon fuse Si will rupture and permit switch 49 to engage contacts 54. If a suitable non-fusible conductor 6l is provided in fuse holder 2i, operation of switch 4l to engage contacts 54 will connect the normally isolated neutral of the capacitorvbank to ground.

With the arrangement just described, the star or Y-connected .capacitor bank may be operated with an isolated neutral to prevent telephone interference and yet, if one of the' capacitors o f the bank should fail. grounding'of the neutral oi the bank would occur immediately throughoueration of control device I5, thereby preventing dangerous overvoltages vfrom being applied to the capacitors in the other phases.

Various modifications of the particular type oi conductors contained within fuse'holders 2E and 2i may be made to still obtain similar operation of control device IE. In Fig 2, I have shown a modification of the connections of con@ trol device ii for grounding the isolated neutral of e. tf-connected capacitor in the event of failure or one of the capacitors. The corresponding parts of Fig. 2 are designated by the carne reiwhich is connected in 'series with fusible element Il as in `Fig. la, although, in this case, the gap and the fusible element are in separate fuse holders. Upon failure of any'one of the capacitors, a line-to-ground voltage appears across gap 63 which arcs over to permit current to flow through fusible element 6l to ,cause rupture thereof. Thereupon, fuse controlled switch I! operates to engage contacts 54 to complete the ground connection for the neutral of the Y-connected capacitor bank.

Although I have disclosed a specic type of control device I5 in Fig. l, it will be obvious that the structural details thereof are not important as is obvious from the schematic showings of Figs. la and 2 and any suitable means for obtaining the operation described above may be used.

While I have disclosed my protective arrangement specifically as applied to protecting a Y-connected capacitor bank having an isolated neutral, I, have discovered that the control device I5 of Figs. la and 2 maybe used in other protective arrangements. Accordingly, in Fig. 3, I have illustrated a protective arrangement for a street lighting circuit of the type including a return conductor running parallel to and adjacent a line containing the street lights. This is schematically shown in Fig. 3 where a source of current l0 is connected through a constant current tran-sformer 1| to a street-lighting circuit comprising a plurality of lamps l2 connected in one line l2 with a parallel return conductor 13. If any one ro the series lights should fail, it would be desirable to bridge the lines 12' and 13 so that the portion of the circuitv between the source and the defective lamp may still be operated or maintained in service. Accordingly, at suitable points,

. such as 1| and 15, along the street-lighting cirerence numerals as in Figs. l and la. Instead of providing a nonfus'ible conductor in fuseholdi er 2i and a fusible element in' series with a gap in fuse holder 2% as in Figs. 1 and la, I provide only a fusible element Il in fuse holder N and the gap 63 in fuse holder 2i., ln'thlscase, howw ever, the ground conductor l! is connected to ter-D minal 3l described above which is electrically connected with contacts ll. Also, the neutral of `as I5 of Fig. vll.

cuit, I connect control devices l5' and i5" such As illustrated in Fig. 3, I connect the terminals l1 and id of a control device lbf at 1C. device i5' are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. l and 2 and control device l5 is identical with the control device l5 of Fig. lo, Similarly, at point l5 on the street-lighting circuit, I connect the terminals i@ and 3d of control device i5 which is identical with control de- 'vlce i5 of Fig. 2. The operation of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 3 will be obvious to those skilled in the art since, whenever a lamp should rail, the voltage across the street-lighting circuit will rise by virtue of the inherent characteristics of the constant current transformer, whereupon gap 63 will arc over and permit fuse controlled switch M to engage contacts 5d and bridge the two conductors of the street-lighting circuit.

Many schemes for protecting series capacitors Y or rather systems employing series capacitors have been suggested. In all of these arrangements, it is desirable to short circuit the'series capacitor in case of a fault on the system,A thereby preventing dangerous overvoltages from being applied to the capacitor. I have discovered that the control device i described heretofore may be utilized very satisfactorily for such a purpose and, accordingly inFigs. 4, 5, and 6, I have disclosed several different arrangements for protecting a series capacitor connected in a system against dangerous overvoltages which might occur by virtue of faults on the circuit beyond the series capacitor.

` tin the art,that, as long as normal load and insulation exist on the circuit, the series capacitor is not subjected to more than its normal share The corresponding parts of control It will be understood by those skilled particularly if the fault ofxthe arrangement disclosed in ,obv'iliiptlio inthe art.

i-of the voltage. However, in the case of a fault on the portion of the circuit beyond the capacitor,

is closely adjacent to the capacitor, one terminal of the capacitor vassumes substantially ground potential if the fault. is a ground fault, which means that full line voltage and possibly even higher voltages due to resonant conditions would be applied to the series capacitor which would damage it in a very short space of time.

Referring now to Fig. 4 where the corresponding parts of the control device i5 are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. l and 2, I have illustrated a transmission line 'i8 including in series therewith a capacitor 19. In ordenthat capacitor 19 may be short circuited in the event of a fault on line 18, I provide vcontrol device I5 having a fusible element 6i Vconnected in fuse holder 20 while no conductor of any kind is provided in fuse holder 2i. Oneterminal of series capacitor 19 is connected to rminal i1 of control device I5 while the other terminal of series capacitor 19 is connected to terminal 3l. A suitable dielectric means, such as external gap, Il, may ber connected across capacitor 19. Upon the'occurrence of a fault on line 18 which would cause dangerously high voltages across capacitor 19, a high current will ilow in line 18 and, consequently, through fusible element 6I which will cause rupture thereof, whereupon switching ele- .ment 49 operates to engage contacts 5I, thereby providing a path in shunt with capacitor 19.

Furthermorefgap 80 may break down to limit v the voltage across capacitor 19. The operation of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 4 in which no gap is used in the fuse holders 20 and 2|will be obvious to those skill d in the art in view of the detailed description cluded above.

In Fig. 5, a gap 63 is provided in fuse holder 2i while the fusible element 6i is provided in fuse holder 20.' One terminal of capacitor 19 is condielectric means is mounted within vthe control device Il' rather than externally as in Fig. 4,

' nected to terminal i1 of control device I5 while It might be desirable to provide a protective arrangement for a series capacitor, such as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the fusible element would not be required to carry the normal f load current but will only carry current when the dielectric means, such as the 'arc gap, was rendered conducting. According-ly, inFig. 6, Ihave illustrated the control device I6 of`Fig. 2 as connectedpto protect a series capacitor 19 connected in circuit 1l with one terminal of the ,capacitor being connected. to terminal Il of the control device itwhile the other terminal of the capacitor `19 is connected toterminal 3l. vThe correspondingparts of Fig. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals' as in thegreceding figures. Since the fuse Il vin Fig. cis in the' gap circuit, it would be desirable to connect a suitable impedancesuch as resistor Il in Fig. 6,

cross thefusible elementA to across capacitor 10 down when t fuseblows and prior to the closingof switch 49. The operation" Figs'wlll be' keep the voltagev cuit and extending -priorrto the occurrence Although I have disclosed several different protective arrangements embodying my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the 'art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention and I, therefore, aim

in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of invention.

What I claim as new and desire to Letters Patent of the United States is:

i; In a polyphase electric system having a grounded neutral conductor, a star-conn bank of capacitors connected to the system and secure by having its neutral point normally isolated from ductive interference with adjacent communication lines, and a control device including a pair of terminals, means for connecting one of said terminals to the neutral of said star-connected capacitor bank, means for connecting another of said terminals to ground, a serially connected dielectric means and fusible element interconnecting said terminals. said dielectric means maintaining said neutral of said starconnected capacitor bank isolated from ground under normal conditions of saidbank, and a switching member operative in response to rupture of said fusible element for completing a circuit between said terminals to ground the neutral of said capacitor bank, said fusible element being designed to rupture' when said dielectric means becomes conducting in response to the increased voltage impressed thereox'r upon failure of one of the capacitors in said bank.

3. In combination with an electric circuit subject to faults thereon which might produce undesirable consequences on the same or associated circuits, a protective arrangement comprising al control device including a housing, a pair of fuss-l holders mounted r in said housing, a member adapted to conduct current connected to said cirers. switching means supportedin such housing for changing the connections of said member and said circuitfa plurality of terminals for said control device connected to said circuitin a predetermined manner, means including a fusible element mounted in' the other of said fuaeholders for maintaining 'said switching means in a nonconducting position, and'means serially connect-I ed with said fusible element for preventing we rent from flowing through said fusible element of apredetermined fault condition on said electric circuit. ment being arranged torupture in such' faults'on said said switching means.

y 4. InJ combination with an electric circuit subject to faults thereon which might produce undethe same orS associated a sirable consequences on circuits, a protective yarrangement controldevie including a comprising a' rinto one of said fuseholdsaid fusible eleelectric circuit for releasing housing having a plu' of said fuseholders for maintaining said switchving means in a nonconducting position, and dielectric means serially connected with said fusible element for preventing current from flowing through said fusible element under unfaulted conditionsyof said circuit, said dielectric means being so constructed and arranged as to permit current to flow through said fusible element to cause rupture thereof and release of said switching means in response to such faults on said electric circuit.

5. In combination with an electric circuit subject to faults thereon which might produce undesirable consequences on the same or associated circuits, a protective arrangement comprising a control device including a housing havingy a plurality of spaced terminals associated therewith,

means for connecting said terminals with said bank of capacitors connected to the system and having its neutral point normally isolated from the system neutral or ground substantially to 'eliminate inductive interference with adjacent communication lines, and a control device comprising a housing including a plurality of terminals mounted therein, means for connecting one of said terminals to the neutral of said starconnected capacitor bank, means for grounding another of said terminals, means including a serially connected dielectric means and fusible element mounted Within said housing and connected between said terminals, said dielectric means maintaining said neutral of said starconnected capacitor bank isolated from ground under normal conditions of said bank, and a switching member normally maintained in the open position by means including said fusible element adapted to interconnect said terminals and, consequently, to ground said star-connected capacitor bank, said dielectric means being designed to become conducting and permit current to now through said fusible element to cause rupture thereof and release of said switching means in response to the increased voltage impressed thereon upon failure of one of the capacitors in said bank. A

8. In combination with an electric circuit including an electrical device subject to dangerous overvoltages in the event of certain fault conditions on said circuit, means for by-passing said electrical device in the event of such a fault condition comprising a control-device including a said electrical device for maintaining said switching means in the open position, and an arc gap electric circuit, means including said fusible element for maintaining said switching means in a nonconducting position when said fusible element is in an unblown`condition, said fusible element being caused to rupture and release said switch-- ing means upon the occurrence of such a fault on the electric circuit as. would cause current to flow through saiddielectric means.

6. In` combination with an electric circuit subject to faults thereon which might produce undesirable consequences on the same or associated circuits, a protective arrangement comprising a, control device including a housing having a. plurality of spaced terminals associated therewith, means for connecting said terminals with said electric circuit, a pair of fuse holders mounted in said housing, a fusible element in one of said fuse holders, dielectric means in the other of said fuse holders, means for connecting 'said dielectric means and said fusible element in series so that said dielectric means prevents current from nowing through said fusible element under uniaulted conditions of said circuit, switching means supported in said housing for changing the connections of said circuit, means including said fusible element for maintaining said switching means in a nonconducting position when said fusible element is in an unblown condition, said dielectric means being-so constructed and arranged as to be rendered conducting upon the occurrence of a fault on said electric circuit thereby permitting said fusible element to rupture and release said switching means.

connected across said electrical device, said fusiblevelement being so constructed and arranged to 'rupture in response to currents owing therethrough subject to overvoltages appearing across said electrical device to permit'release. of` said switching means and by-passing of said electrical device. -9. In combination with an electric circuit including an electrical device subject to dangerous overvoltages in the event of certain fault conditions on said circuit, means for by-passing said electrical device in the event of such a fauit condition comprising a control device including a housing having a plurality of terminals associated therewith, means for connecting said terminals with said electric circuit, a pair of fuse,- holders mounted in said housing, a member adapted to conduct current connected to said circuit and extending into one o! said fuseholders, switching means mounted in said housing and adapted when closed to complete an electrical circuit between a pair of said terminals to by-pass said electrical device with respect to -said circuit and effectively change the connecmaintaining said switching means in the open position, said fusible element being designed to rupture in response to currents flowing there- 7. In a. polyphase electric system having a groundedv neutralI conductor, a star-connected throughupon the occurrence of abnormal volttages appearing across said electrical device to permitl release'of said switching means and bypassing of said electrical device.

RALPH S. BENNETT. 

